Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
Passion for Italy, Language and Wine
katerinafiore
Katie fell in love with Italy from her first visit in 2002. She now calls it home, writing and capturing the culture of the enchanting city of Florence. Whether its checking out the hottest wine bar, sipping espresso at the local bar or riding her bike through the streets of Florence, Katie is always exploring the ancient cobblestones of Florence, one step at a time. Find her here: katiegreenaway@katerinafiore.comBlogHer
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Stumble It!Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
An Award from a Passionista
Thanks to Anait! Here is my Honest post.
Ten honest things about me....eccoci: 1. I used to play Barbies almost every day up until I was 13. Each Barbie had it's own personality. Once my imagination escaped me, the Barbies never seemed fun anymore. It was ...<< MORE >>
The award is given by other bloggers who consider
a blog’s content or design to be brilliant. The awardee must then post
ten honest things about themselves and pass the award on to other
bloggers who fit the bill – in other words, whose blog is brilliant.
The New Date
The date has been changed. 4 more weeks. I have accepted it. Even if I am devastated that I am not leaving on Monday. But all of this has happened for yet another reason. I had no control over it happening. I booked my ticket back in May using my heart. I felt that my passport would come in time, because everything else is going so swimmingly in my life. I am aware that 4 weeks is not that long. But once you have your hopes up for one thing and then all of a sudden you feel as if some just popped your balloon at a fair(did I use this metaphor in the last post, oh well it works here too).
Do you know what it feels like when your heart belongs somewhere else? Amidst my loving family around me, I end up feeling guilty of how strongly I feel about another place. I am no longer going to hold my love back. I can't help how a place called Florence, makes me feel. Words that come to mind: Confidence, Perseverance, Hope, Belonging, Compassion, Passion. Anything seems possible among the cobblestones of the valley under the brutally hot, Tuscan sun. How can one place allow me to explore myself without any reservation? As most of my close friends know, once you bring up one thing about Italy, you CANNOT shut me up. I actually met up with a high school friend a few months ago and after I spilled my heart about the Florence excursions I have had(hey she asked), I never heard from her again.
Needless to say, I talk way too much about my love. I guess that is what happens when you fall in love. You constantly talk about it, you express the love you have about every aspect of your love. What makes you smile, what you need to work on, what you enjoy about the time spent together.
Photo credit: Flickr
You want to tell people 'look how much love this city has given to me', 'look how much I have grown with this city'. I love to tell the love story of our love and how it began. It is a very unique story. Some other time...
I have been dating my love, Firenze, for 8 years now. I have now finally, fully committing myself to you, amore mio. I think it is about time we started talking about moving in together. July 23rd will be the first day of our new life together, let's grow together ok?
4 more weeks until I am in your arms again...it shall fly by, I promise you.
Ci vediamo prestissimo! Non vedo l'ora a rivederti di nuovo! Sei mio amore per sempre!
a presto amici! 
Do you know what it feels like when your heart belongs somewhere else? Amidst my loving family around me, I end up feeling guilty of how strongly I feel about another place. I am no longer going to hold my love back. I can't help how a place called Florence, makes me feel. Words that come to mind: Confidence, Perseverance, Hope, Belonging, Compassion, Passion. Anything seems possible among the cobblestones of the valley under the brutally hot, Tuscan sun. How can one place allow me to explore myself without any reservation? As most of my close friends know, once you bring up one thing about Italy, you CANNOT shut me up. I actually met up with a high school friend a few months ago and after I spilled my heart about the Florence excursions I have had(hey she asked), I never heard from her again.
Needless to say, I talk way too much about my love. I guess that is what happens when you fall in love. You constantly talk about it, you express the love you have about every aspect of your love. What makes you smile, what you need to work on, what you enjoy about the time spent together.
I have been dating my love, Firenze, for 8 years now. I have now finally, fully committing myself to you, amore mio. I think it is about time we started talking about moving in together. July 23rd will be the first day of our new life together, let's grow together ok?
4 more weeks until I am in your arms again...it shall fly by, I promise you.
Ci vediamo prestissimo! Non vedo l'ora a rivederti di nuovo! Sei mio amore per sempre!
Kickboxing
One more month I have. Oh the frustration. I think I am going to take up kick boxing, to ease the worries in my mind. A good thing about learning how to kick box is that I will never be afraid to walk home alone again. I can also break a sweat while alleviating the pain and stressors of daily life. I can also have a great body.
Yes. I think I will look into that.
One more month.
...<< MORE >>
Yes. I think I will look into that.
One more month.
...<< MORE >>
Change of Plans
On Monday I decided to call the UK to check on my passport(I had a feeling) needless to say I am not leaving for Florence on Monday. My passport isn't ready. So I am in the process of changing my ticket to the end of July. Possibly leaving on the 17th. As much as it sucks to change a ticket, pay the fees and the difference in the ticket, it will turn out to be the best. I am lucky to have BOTH of my jobs to keep the money rolling in as well as having a few more weeks ...<< MORE >>
Our Lovely Blog Award
I was kindly awarded the Lovely Blog Award by Erica at Travel Blissful. Thank you for that, Erica! I am sharing the love so some of the most Loveliest Blogs I know.
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with
the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog
link.2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
In no particular order:
1). << MORE >>
Dossier of a Passion-Seeker
Passion-Seekers are hard to come by. I am glad to hear from a handful of you whenever I can. I read about the Dossier-type blog post from Tina, but officially it was from ModernSingleMom. It is like mirror image of what I want all my life to be and will be. So here it goes...
The Dossier of a Passion-Seeker<< MORE >>
Perugia: winin' and dinin'
I thought that this piece was lost in Venere. I totally forgot about it. Well here is my most recent publication on Venere.
Where to Eat and Drink at Perugia
...<< MORE >>
Where to Eat and Drink at Perugia
...<< MORE >>
The Universe is still on my side...
Which sounds like more fun, Katie: Being showered
with miracles just because I love you, or
being showered with miracles because you
dared, stretched, went out on a limb, raised
the bar, threw down the gauntlet, faced your
fears, and grew into more than you ever knew
you could be?
with miracles just because I love you, or
being showered with miracles because you
dared, stretched, went out on a limb, raised
the bar, threw down the gauntlet, faced your
fears, and grew into more than you ever knew
you could be?
Dare ya,
The
Universe
Florence next month
I have had basically all my dreams come true. My citizenship came in record time. My passport is on it's way. My departure is next month. Sooner than I thought. The universe has manifested these desires I have wanted for so long. Italian citizenship took too long, wasted 2 years of my life thinking something was manifesting when nothing was happening.
I have been grateful for many of my grand blogger friends who have become fast friends since I arrived back and had a hard time with life here. I want to spotlight on them today, just a bit.
Lulu from ...<< MORE >>
I have been grateful for many of my grand blogger friends who have become fast friends since I arrived back and had a hard time with life here. I want to spotlight on them today, just a bit.
Lulu from ...<< MORE >>
Writing will soon continue
Things are going quite well. Working on some new pieces for my upcoming writing assignment. I PROMISE, more writing will come. I apologize to my readers. The fact that I am a EU citizen is still sinking in.
a presto ...<< MORE >>
a presto ...<< MORE >>
I am a UK citizen Today
After the 4 years all together of fighting with the Italian consulate in Chicago, in a short 30 minute ceremony in the Wrigley building in downtown Chicago, I became a UK citizen. Why I didn't do this back in 2005, besides the point. The thousands of miles I have flown back and forth to Florence, I finally have a reason to stay, live and work. Here are some pictures of this momentous day in my life.
... ...<< MORE >>
... ...<< MORE >>
Tomorrow is the DAY
It came up so fast. Tomorrow I will become a UK citizen thanks to my Mom and Nana. I can then live in Florence almost as easily as a native.
I know I will show some emotion. SMILES, LAUGHTER, SCREAMING!!!!!!
MAMMA MIA!!!
Pictures to come...
a Domani!! ...<< MORE >>
I know I will show some emotion. SMILES, LAUGHTER, SCREAMING!!!!!!
MAMMA MIA!!!
Pictures to come...
a Domani!! ...<< MORE >>
3 Days away
3 days till I am a British and European citizen. I cannot believe it is happening. I am beyond words.
I will just say this:
I am truly grateful for having all my dreams come true thus far.
...<< MORE >>
I will just say this:
I am truly grateful for having all my dreams come true thus far.
...<< MORE >>
Love Thursday: My Heart Strength
Dear Universe,
I am calling on you because I believe you
bestowed this love on me from the get go. I did write about it but
nothing too specific. I was perplexed by the journey I was on at first
but now, I know why. I was in a bubble of "love", that I couldn't let
go of. I was tortured by the pain of not "being there" instead I was
"here". I was told I was not thinking about myself and only about the
person at hand. I was obsessed to a point of no return. I was covered
in pain and darkness, afraid I would ...<< MORE >>
I am calling on you because I believe you
bestowed this love on me from the get go. I did write about it but
nothing too specific. I was perplexed by the journey I was on at first
but now, I know why. I was in a bubble of "love", that I couldn't let
go of. I was tortured by the pain of not "being there" instead I was
"here". I was told I was not thinking about myself and only about the
person at hand. I was obsessed to a point of no return. I was covered
in pain and darkness, afraid I would ...<< MORE >>